Lollywood legend Babra Sharif, widely celebrated as the defining face of Pakistani cinema in the 1970s and 1980s, has spoken her mind about the new generation of actors, and her message is clear and direct.
Speaking at a recent press conference, Sharif criticised what she described as the growing material demands of modern performers, saying actors should not make life difficult for their producers.
She expressed disappointment over the culture of luxury that has become commonplace on contemporary film sets, pointing out that many newcomers are overly focused on comfort and status, wanting their own caravans and private hotel rooms.
Reflecting on her own era, she recalled a far more grounded environment: “When it was our time, we used to bring our own food from home. We didn’t want to be a burden on the producer or anyone else on set.”
Sharif also highlighted the lack of solidarity within the industry, noting that today’s artists do not even go out to watch other artists’ films or support their own fraternity.
She challenged casting directors who complain about the shortage of fresh talent, asking why directors today cannot find and mentor new actors the way they once did, and urged them to stop relying on favouritism.
On filmmaking, she made a passionate case for lighter, entertaining stories, saying cinema is a fantasy and a dream world, people go to forget real-life problems, not relive them.
She also defended the role of music in Pakistani films, dismissing the trend of removing songs to copy Western styles, and urged the industry to consider remaking its own classic films rather than watching neighbouring countries do it first.
Babra Sharif’s words carry the weight of experience, and the industry would do well to listen.
